Head of Finance

Job summary

Providing a comprehensive financial business partnering service to assigned business area; providing high level insight, challenge and support to a comprehensive range of stakeholders, to deliver outcomes in line with UKRI priorities.

Interim role to April 2027; we are undertaking significant work on our operating model over 26-27.

Job description

Leadership / teamwork:

• Take a collegiate approach to leading across the UKRI Finance function
• Develop exceptional collaborative relationships with senior managers and key internal and external stakeholders including the Executive Chair, COO, and Directors.
• Lead in providing strategic finance advice, driving value for money, and offering challenges to relevant internal and external senior stakeholders, based on strong business awareness and understanding, to ensure robust financial processes.
• As a recognised expert, work closely with senior stakeholders to bring insight and influence on financial matters to aid in establishing strategic priorities, particularly in more complex or high-risk matters
• Represent the Finance function and/or UKRI at relevant Executive meetings, Boards and Committees.

Delivery / programmes / projects / process:

• Responsibility for a range of complex reporting and control functions, positioning Finance to work with the business and link budgets to delivery plans and business cases.
• Present insightful information and analysis to support effective strategic decision-making, using strong business awareness to present insightful information and analysis and to support effective longer-term decision-making and deliver outcomes in line with UKRI priorities.
• Ownership and accountability for annual and multi-year budget setting cycles including close work with central strategic finance team and DSIT on dual support issues
• Accountability and direction in the development of the finance case within business cases, and input and shape the direction of the other cases.
• Accountable for ensuring compliance with internal financial, DSIT and HMG controls within assigned business areas.
• Accountability and responsibility for the production of high-quality reports for Executive meetings, Boards and Committees

Other:

• Lead finance support to new strategic investment programme boards within your assigned business area; these are standing up as part of our move to a more programmatic and impact-focussed approach to our investments
• Active contribution to finance transformation work which will be taking place over the course of 26-27.

Person specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential

Qualifications:

• Qualified Accountant (ACA/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA) (S).

Experience and knowledge:

• High level understanding of accounting and finance, and demonstrable experience of working in senior finance roles and delivering effective financial management (S, I).
• Highly numerate with the ability to provide insightful analysis on complex issues, communicating the key elements to effectively deliver projects and influence decision making at a strategic level. (I).
• Strategic understanding of the role of governance, risk management and assurance in operational and project delivery and ability to reflect that understanding in advice to the business. (S, I).

Skills and abilities:

• Proven ability to build exceptional collaborative relationships with senior stakeholders and influence and challenge them with impact and professional credibility (S, I).
• Personal resilience and a confident approach, willing to apply good judgement to solve issues and find solutions. (I).
• Strong organisational skills, able to manage and prioritise own and others’ workload and meet deadlines in a very timely manner. (S).

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.

Plus, many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see:

Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org.

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £70,752, UK Research and Innovation contributes £20,496 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

1st interview incl presentation.

Interviews will either take place remotely via Teams, or in person face to face.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment@ukri.org

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitmement@ukri.org